Wireless receiving apparatus



July 11, 1950 M. RABINOWICZ 2,514,670

WIRELESS RECEIVING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Figi. A 1

1 5:1 ru @JQTZQQJ Elia/5:100 wzLcZ y 1950 M. RABINOWICZ WIRELESS RECEIVING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 13, 1948 i IIIJA lfzz/v @17/"2301 Elia Z9 ire/ 0 w 0 0 5 Patented July 11, 1950 WIRELESS RECEIVING APPARATUS Mechal Rabinowicz, London, England Application February 13, 1948, Serial No. 8,096 In Great Britain February 25,1947

.5 Claims. (Cl. 250-14) This invention relates to wireless receiving apparatus, and more particularly to broadcast receivers, of the kind having a casing member which is rotatable around a supporting column and is operatively connected to the tuning control means of the receiver, so as to enable the receiver to be tuned to the required Wavelength by rotating the said casing member.

In wireless receiving apparatus of the kindreferred to, it has been proposed 'to mount the tuning condensers on a platform to which the supporting column is fixed, the spindles of the condensers being connected "by gearing to the rotatablecasing member.

According to the present invention, the receiving apparatus, including one or more tuning control members, is mounted on a platform which is rotatable with respect to the supporting column, the said platform and the receiving apparatus thereon being enclosed by a casing, at least a part of which is rigidly connected to the platform so as to be rotatable therewith, actuating means for operating the tuning control members being provided between the latter and the stationary column, so that tuning of the receiver is effected by the bodily rotation of the tuning control means around the column when the casing or rotatable casing part is turned.

This arrangement has the advantage that'the supporting platform acts as internal bracing means for the casing, and is of particular importance in the case of a spherical or other casing which completely encloses the platform, since the latter may beprovided with a bearing sleeve through which the column passes, thereby forming an internal bearing support for the casing.

, The tuning control members may'comprise one or more variable condensers or a plurality of pretuned circuits similar to the well-known press button arrangements.

The supporting platform may be circular, square or polygonal and flanged or otherwise. In the case of a square or polygonal platform, the casing is preferably attached thereto at the The invention is illustratedby'way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical central section, partly in side elevation of a'receiver having a non-flanged circular supporting platform,

Figure 2 is a vertical central section, partly in the washer l8 which insulates the said collar Figure 4 is a-part vertical central section ofa receiver in which the tuning means comprise a plurality of :pretuned circuits,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section through the casing of the receiver shown in Figure 4 on the line 5--5, the supporting platform being shown in plan but partly broken away to show the manner in which it is attached-to the casing,

Figure 6 is a part vertical central section through a receiver having a cylindrical casing only the upper part of which is rotatable,

Figure 7 is a perspective viewof a receiver-combined with a table.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, the receiver has a spherical casing comprising an upper part l connected by means of screws 2 to a lower part 3 provided with internal lugs -'4 to which a circular platform 5 is removably attached by means of screws 6. In this embodiment, the casing is made of metal and is insulated from the platform 6 by means of an insulating plate 8, which is interposed between the platform5 and each of the lugs 4, and a flanged collar 1 of insulating material which surrounds the screw 6 and against Which-the head of the screw bears through the intermediary of a washer'9.

The bottom of the lower casing'part 3 is provided with an openingwhich is closed by a cover plate I 0 which is removably attached to the easing part 3 by means of screws II, the said cover plate having a hub l 2 which surrounds a supporting'column I3 around which the casing-2, 3 is retatable. The bottom of the casing part 3 is also provided with ventilation openings 14.

The platform *5 has a bearing hub f5 secured thereto in which is inserted a 'liner'sleeve 11 of insulating material through which the column [3 passes, the lower end of said sleeve being encircled by a'washer l8, the upper end of the sleeve I! having an integral flange against which bears a collar l9 which is secured to the column l3 by means of a screw 20. A collar 2| secured to the column 13 by-means of a screw 22 bears against from'the end of the hub Hi.

A gear wheel 23, the hub of which is fixed to the column 13 by means of a screw 25 meshes with a gear wheel 26 fixed on the spindle 27 of a variable tuning condenser 28 mounted on the platform 5, the arrangement des-cribed being such that when the casing 2, 3 is turned around the column I3, the platform 5 turns withit and the condenser 28 revolves bodily around thelcolumn. During the rotation of the platform 5, :the gear 33 is attached to the inside of the casing by v In the case of an energised loud speaker, a liner 39 of insulating material is in terposed between the unit 33 and thecasing part screws 34.

I, the screws being provided with insulating bushes 31, so as to avoid therisk ofshock to .the

user of the receiver.

As the platform is insulated from' the casing cent dial strip 59 extending circumferentially around the casing part I, the said dial strip being removably secured to the casing part I by means of a cover strip BI). Behind the dial strip 59, the casing part I is provided with windows 6! which are illuminated by a dial lamp 82 inside the casing. The dial lamp 62 is mounted inside a housing 63 fixed on the underside of an arm 64 having an eye 65 through which the upper end of the column I3 is passed, the said arm being secured to the column by means of a screw 68 passing through the eye 65. The housing 63 serves to prevent the dial lamp from shining through more than one window SI at a time.

I The column I3 is slidable within a tubular pil- .lar I11 which is integral with and extends up w wardly from a pedestal base I18, so as to enable part 2 and the insulating sleeve I1 and washer I8 insulate the platformlfrom the column I3, the risk of shock to the user owing to leakage from the platform 5 to the casing orthe supporting column is avoided. The sleeve l1 and washer I8 may be made of phenolic resin or any other suitable insulating material. v

In order to avoid the necessity of providing actuating knobs on the casing for the subsidiary control members, Such as a wave-change switch or a volume control device, in the embodimentof the invention shown in Figure 1, the wave-change switch 38 and the combined on-and-oif switch 40 and volume control potentiometer39are operated by tubular adjusting members 41, 42, respectively which extend along the outside of the column I3 into the receiver casing. The members II, 42 are arranged concentrically between the column I3 and the hub. I2 of the cover plate III, the member M which actuates the wavechange switch 38 being arranged next the col;- umn. The wave-change switch 38 is carried by a bracket 43 fixed'to the underside of the plate form 5 and its spindle 44 has a forked lever 45 fixed thereon which straddles a pin 46 extending radially from the tubular member 4|. The potentiometer and switch unit 39, '49 is carried by a bracket 41 fixed to the lower end of the casing of the condenser 28 and its spindle Ail-has a gear wheel 49 fixedthereon which meshes with a toothed segment 59- integral with a collar 5| fixed to the upper end of the member 42 by means ofascrew 52. a The lower end ofthe member 42 projects below the hub I2, a knurled actuatin sleeve 53 beingfixed to the projecting portion by a screw 54, while the lower end of themember 41 projects below the lower end of the member 42 and the projecting portion thereof has a knurled actuating sleeve 55 secured thereto by means of a screw 56. A collar 51 fixed on the column I3 by means of a screw 58 serves as a bottom bearing support for the member 4| andthesleeve 55.

When the casing I, 3 is turned to adjust the tuning of the'receiver, the locking means for maintaining the spindle of the'.wave-change switch 38 in its respective adjusted positions serve for preventing relative rotation between the member 4| and the platform 5. When the sleeve 55, however, is turned with sufficient .force the pin 46 rocks the lever 45 and thereby adjusts the spindle of the switch38. Similarly, by'turning the sleeve 53, the potentiometer can be adjusted as required, or its spindle maybe turned sufiiciently to switch off the receiver entirely.

The casing of the receiver is provided with station identification means, comprising a translu- 'the'rec'eiv'er to be supported upon the floor of a'room. "The upper end of the pillar 111 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed holes I19 which are adapted to register with a pair of diametrically opposed holes I89 in the column I3. The holes I19, I are adapted to receive a pin (not shown) which prevents rotation of the column with respect to the pillar,v I11 and pedestal I18. More than one pair of diametrically 'o'pposed holes I8Il may be provided in the column I3 at different points in the length thereof, so as to enable the receiver casing to be supportedat different heights from the floor.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, the supporting platform comprises a square flanged chassis member 19 which isremovably attached to the casing part I16 at the corners by means of screws 1I passing through lugs 12 integral with the said casing part. The screws H are screwed into nuts 13 embedded in blocks of insulating material 14 provided inside, the member 10 at the corners thereof, the said blocks having hollow cylindrical extensions 15'passing through holes in the corners of the member 10 and surrounding the screws 1|. The lugs 12 on the casing part 3 areinsulated from the corners of the member 10 by means of plates '16 of insulating material. I

The member 10 has a downwardly extending boss 11 provided with a liner sleeve 18 of' insulating material through which the supporting column I3 passes. A washer 19 of insulating material encircles the column I3 below the boss .11 and-sleeve 18, against which bears the. upper end of a flanged pulley 89 which is fixed to the column I3 by means of a screw 8|. I

Thespindle 21 of the tuning condenser 28 extends downwardly below the member 10 and is driven by means of a flanged pulley 82 fixed to the spindle and'a driving cord 83 whichis passed aroundthe said pulley and the pulley 88 fixed to the column I 3, so that when the casing I15,v I15 is turned, the pulley 82 revolves around the column I3 and the cord 83-is wound .off on pulley and wound on the other, therebyturning the spindle 21. f r j The loud speaker movement 33 is carried by the upper end of the column I3 which is provided with a socket member 84 0f insulatingmaterial secured thereto by means of ascrew- 85. The member 84 has an internal partition-wall 86 which rests on the end of the column I3 andon which the loud speaker movement 33 bears,-the said movement being secured to thezsocket 84 by means of screws-81. A ring88'of felt-is interposed between the cone frame of the speaker movement and the'upper' part of the casing provided with slots 35. 1.

The casingiiparts I15, I116 are'eachprovidedat their edges with azflange I having a rim which fitslover a cylindrical-member I11 of transparent or translucent plastic material, e. g. of an acrylic .ester type, :on the outside of which is provided a translucent .dial strip I12 of suitable material. The 'flanges I- 10-are provided with depressionsto receive projections I14 on the inside of clip members I 13 of:m'eta1 which engage overthe flanges. The rims of the flanges I10--1'it the cylindrical member I'TI closely: and the clip members I13 hold the two-casing parts I15, I16 firmly together with themember I1 I- secured rigidly between them. "The clip members I13 are sprung into position over the-flanges 11-0 and are readily removed when required for the purpose of obtaining access to the inside of the casing. The dial strip is illuminated :by a :dial lamp 02 in the housing '63 extending downwardly from the radial arm 64 which is fixed to the-column I3 by the screw 00 below the s'ocket membera l.

The wave-change switch 43 -is adjusted by the tubular member 4I, the arrangementbeing sub.- stantially identical with that shown in'Figure 1. The volume "control potentiometer, however, is mounted on-a-br-acket 00 fixed to the underside of the platform 1'0-and its spindle!" has a forked lever02 'fixedto it-similar to the member 45. The member-02 is engaged by a pin 93 extending radially froma collar 94 which is-fixed to the upper end of the tubular member 42 by'me'ans of a screw 95, so that when the member 42 is turned by ineans 'of the sleeve 53, the lever 92-is rocked, therebyturning the spindle0I'of the potentiometer 89.

The column I3 is slidable within the pillar I11 as in the'embodiment shown-in Figure l, the receiver casing being shown in Figure 2 in its lowest position'withthe pin I82 inserted in the holes I19 and I80. In order to raise the casing, it is only necessary towithdraw the pin I82 and move the receiver casing downwardly until the holes I19 register with another pair of holes I8 I in the column to enable the casing to be supported in the higher'position by the insertion of the pin I82 through the holes I10 and I8I.

In the construction shown in Figure 1, the top of the column 13 is unobstructed, so that the aerial lead-in conductonas well as the leads for connecting'the'receiver to a power supply system may be passed into the "casing through the column and the bottom of the pillar I11. As shown in Figure 2, however, the top of the column I3 is closed by the member'84 which carries theloud speaker movement. The aerial lead-in conductor and leads 'f0r=the power supply are therefore passed intothecasing through holes I83, I84provided inthe column.

In the embodiment shown'in Figures 4 and 5, the platform I00 is secured to lugs 12 on the casingpart 3 by means of screws 1I screwed into nuts in blocks of insulating material 14 provided inside'the platform I00 at the corners, the said blocks'14 having hollow cylindrical extensions 15 surrounding the screws and passing through plates 10 of insulating material between the lugs 12 and the corners of the platform, in the same manner as'in the embodiment shown in Figures 2 and'3. The platform I00 in this case, however, is hexagonal.

A central hub IOI welded to the underside of the'platform I00 encloses a flanged bearing bush I02 of insulating material which surrounds, the column I3, a co1larI03 being secured to the column I3 by a screw 203 so as to bear against the flange of the bush I02. A collar 2| :is secured to'the :column I3 below the hub I0-I by means :of a screw 22 and bears against the lower end of the bush I02 and against a washer 1.0 of insulating material which surrounds'the .lower end of the bush soas to insulate the collar 2| from the lower end of the hub 1 I0 I.

In this embodiment, the tuning means oomprise a :plurality of pairs of inductances, two of which only are shown in .Figure 5. The said inductances I04, I05 and I06, I01 are carried by tubular supports I08 of'insulating materiaLithe ends of which are fixed in brackets I I0 riveted to framelm'embers II2 fixed to the platform I00, a plate III of insulating material being held at: its ends between the brackets I I0 and the frame II 2. Within eachframe II2 a plate II3 of insulating materialis 'slid'ablezagainst the action of a spring 2 I4 which encircles one end N4 of the plate II3, the said end being reduced and passing through a hole in one of the end walls of the frame member I I2. Apin H5 i fixed to the other end of the plate I I3 and passes through a hole in the otherend wall .of the frame 2. .The pin H5 is provided with ahead I I6 which projects into the path of a cam I1 .integral with the collar I03.

Each plate III carries two pairs of contact springs Iiilgtmvand I20, I:2I,-the springs H9 and I2I bearing .agail'lst conducting strips I22, I23 fixed onzthe1plate II13. The contactsprings I10 and I2i areconnected to conductors-I24, I25 connected to appropriate points of the high frequency amplifier or frequency .changercircuit, i. e. to the respective grids :ofithe valves. In Figure'4, it is assumed that-the conductors 124,125 are connected to the grids "of tworseparate valves (high frequency and detector valves), the saidconductors being earthed to .the .platform through two condensers I26, I21, respectively. One end of each inductance is also earthed to thetplatform 'I0'I through a .conductor I28, the other ends being .connectedto thecontactsprings H0 and I20,

respectively.

,The bottom .of the'casing part 3 is provided with a cover plate I0 having a hub I2 which is rotatable around the tubular member 42, as in the embodiment shown in Figure 2, so that the casing can turn around the column I3. As the casing is turned, the heads H0 of .the'respective pins II5 are forced inwardly by the cam II1 against the action .;of the springs 2-I4, whereby the conducting springs I22, I23 make .contact with the contact springs I I8, I20, .respectively, and oonnecttheipairs of inductances in turn to the bus-bar conductors "I24, I25and to the *required points of the valves.

'The. inductances I 04, I05, I05, .!01 arelprovided withadjusta-ble cores to enable them when connectedinparallelto the condensers I26, I21 to tune .the receiver to the required Wave length, the number of turns in therespective inductances being'varied as required to'cover the desired frequency range.

In the embodiment shownin Figure 6, the receiver'isprovid'ed with a casing I42, I43 of cylindrical shape, only .the'upper part I42 of whichis rotatable, the said casing being made'of a noncondu'cting material, such as wood or a plastic composition, e. g. a phenolic or other artificial resin. The casing is supported upon a column I40 having a base I4I, the said columnpassing centrally through the bottom of the casing part I43 which isv provided with a hub I44 whichcan be secured to the column I40 by means Of a screw I45.

" lhesup'per part I42 cfthe casing is removably attached by means of screws I39 to angle members I38-of insulating material riveted to the periphery of a supportin platform I46. The column J40 passes through a bearing bush I48 of insulating material which is inserted in the hub I41 of the platform I46,.a'collar I50 fixed to the column I40'loearing against a flange on the upper side of the bush I48. A collar II' secured to the column I46 below the platform bears against 'a washer I59 interposed'between the said collar andthe end of the hub I41.

The spindle 21 of the tuning condenser is in driving connection withthe column I40 through the in-termediary'of a pulley I52 which is opera- .tively connected by means of a cord I54 to a :time by'means, of dial lamp I56 housed in a .shielding casing I 51 on a bracket I58 fixed to the underside of the platform I46. The windows I55 "may be provided with a dial strip or other station indicating means, such as separate cover plates of translucent material bearing the names of the various transmission stations corresponding to the respective tuning adjustment of the receiver. I

The receiver shown in Figure 7 is provided with acasing I15, I16 which is mounted on a pillar I11 fixed to a table so as to extend upwardly therefrom. The table is provided with a plurality of superposed leaves I85, I81, the pillar I11 extending at least through the top leaf I85 and being fixed to both leaves. In the case of a table having more than two superposed leaves, the pillar would preferably extend through all the leaves. In order to prevent relative movement between the pillar and the leaves I85, I81, the latter are both fixed to the pillar. It is desirable in order to avoid noises due to relative motion between the pillar and the leaves through which it extends to fix it to the said leaves. For this purpose, as shown in Figure 7, the pillar I11 is provided with flanges I86 and I88 which are secured to the leaves I85, I81 respectively. I

The receiver casing is carried by a column I3 which is slidable within the pillar I11, and is secured to the pillar in different positions thereon to enable the receiver casing to be adjusted in height by means of a pin I82 in a similar manner to that shown in Figures 1 and 2. I

The receiver casing I15, I16 is rotatable around the column I3 and is operatively connected to the tuning control means of the receiver so as to enable the receiver to be tuned by turning the casing, the said tuning control means together with the other parts of the receiving apparatus being mounted on a platform which may be fixed to the receiver casing and rotate therewith or may be fixed to the column inside the casing which is then rotatable with respect to the platform. Should it not be desired to provide for adjustment of the casing in height, the receiver casing may be rotatable around the pillar I11 itself and the platform, when not attached to the casing, may

be attached to the pillar.

The column I3 carries manual actuating members 53, 55 which are connected to adjusting members extending along the inside or outside of the column into the casing, the said adjusting 'members serving for. operating subsidiary. control :de-- vices; such as awave-change switch or a volume control member. The adjusting members extending outside'the column may be in the form of concentric tubes, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and may be :connectedup to the subsidiary control devices in the same manner as the tubes M and 42. Such an arrangement is more particularly adapted for use when the platform is secured to thecasing. When the platform is fixed to the column I3, the adjusting members are preferably arranged inside the column and connected to the manual actuating members 53, by connecting members passing through the column. In this case, the top of the column I3 must be unobstructed. One of the adjusting members can then be in the form of a central spindle or shaft and directly-connected to the adjusting spindle done of the subsidiary control devices. When the casing of the receiver is rotatable directly around the pillar I11, the adjusting members for the subsidiary control devices are operated by actuating members provided on the pillar.

The adjusting members for the subsidiary, control devices may be rotatable or slidable, in which latter case they would operate the spindles of rotary control devices through a rack and pinion mechanism or other driving connection'for trans lating reciprocating motion into rotary motion.

The manner in which the subsidiary controls are operated in the case of this receiver is illustrated as applied for instance to a volume control potentiometer I59 which is carried by a bracket I60 mounted on the upper end of the tuning condenser. The spindle I6I of the potentiometer I59 is provided with fiats which are adapted to fit into a rectangular-section axial hole in an adjusting knob I62 which is rotatably mounted in a flanged recessed cover plate I63 removably attached by screws I64 to the casing part I42. By means of this arrangement, when it is desired to remove the casing part I42 from the platform I46, the adjusting knob I62 can be disengaged from the spindle [SI and withdrawn from the said casing part, together with the flanged plate I63.

In certain cases, the stops provided on the casing and the column for limiting the rotary motion of the casing may be so arranged as to prevent the casing from being turned in either direction to prevent the arm carrying the dial lamp from fouling any component on the platform. Such an arrangement may be employed where one or two extra high components arranged close to one another would be liable to strike the arm carrying the dial lamp. If necessary, however, the arm carrying the dial lamp may be provided with a downwardly extending offset portion on the lower end of which the dial lamp is mounted.

In the embodiment shown in Figure l, the tuning condenser'comprises a plurality of sections but it is to be understood that separate condensers may be provided in some cases if more convenient.

The inductances I64, I65, I66, I01 of the receiver shown in Figures 4 and 5 may be arranged in superposed banks or rows, the switching means for'each row of inductances being operated by a separate cam fixed to the column and staggered angularly with respect to the cam or cams for operating the switching means of the other rows, so that the inductances in adjacent rows'are'successively connected in circuit with the fixed condensers I26, I21. Such an arrangement enables a larger number of inductances to be provided then when th ginductances are arranged in a single row. If desired, the inductances shown may be replaced by preset adjustable condensers, the condensers, I26, I21 being replaced by tuning coils. I

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, instead of the windows I55 provided in the lower fixed casing part I43, a circumferential series of windows may be provided in the upper rotatable part I42 of the casing, the said windows being provided with a dial strip and co-operating with a dial lamp provided on an arm fixed to the column I40, in the same manner as in the other embodiments shown.

Instead of providing the adjusting means for the subsidiary control devices shown in Figures 1 and 2, the said devices may be operated by means of knobs or the like, in the manner shown in Figure 6.

I claim:

1. A wireless receiver, comprising in combination, a fixed column, a supporting platform arranged for rotation around said column and carrying the receiving apparatus including adjustable tuning means, a casing arranged to enclose said platform and the receiving apparatus thereon with at least a part of the casing rigidly connected to the supporting platform so as to be rotatable therewith, and driving means connected to said tuning means and column and arranged to adjust the tuning means on the platform being turned around the column and thereby revolving the tuning means bodily around the column.

2. A wireless receiver, comprising in combination, a fixed column, .a straight-sided supporting platform having at least four sides arranged for rotation around said column and carrying the receiving apparatus, including adjustable tuning means, a casing arranged to enclose said platform and receiving apparatus with at least a part of the casing rigidly connected to the supporting platform at the corners thereof so as to be rotatable with the platform, and driving means connected to said tuning means and column and arranged to adjust the tuning means on the platform being turned around the column and thereby revolvin the tuning means bodily around the column.

3. A wireless receiver, comprising in combination, a fixed column, a supporting platform carrying the receiving apparatus, including adjustable tuning means, and arranged for rotation around said column with bearing means of insulating material interposed between the column and the platform, a, casing arranged to enclose said platform and receiving apparatus with at least a part of the casing rigidly connected to the supporting platform so as to be rotatable therewith, and driving means connected to said tuning means and column and arranged to adjust the tuning means on the platform being turned around the column and thereby revolving the tuning means bodily around the column.

4. A wireless receiver, comprising in combination, a fixed column, a supporting platform carrying the receiving apparatus, including adjustable tuning means and arranged for rotation around said column, a casing arranged to enclose said platform and receiving apparatus, securing means connected to said platform and at least a part of the casing for rigidly connecting the cas-- ing to the supporting platform so as to be rotatable therewith, insulating material interposed between the casing and the platform at the points of connection thereof by said securing means, and driving means connected to said tuning means and column and arranged toadjust the tuning means on the platform being turned around the column and thereby revolving the tuning means bodily around the column.

5. A wireless receiver as set forth in claim 1, in which the tuning means comprise at least one variable condenser arranged with its spindle parallel to the column and the driving means comprise pulleys fixed to the column and the said spindle, respectively, and a cord passed around said pulleys.

MECI-IAL RABINOWICZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 795,082 Warner July 18, 1905 1,443,803 Reatherford Jan. 30, 1923 1,716,538 Blackmore June 11, 1929 1,890,408 Ringel Dec. 6, 1932 2,240,328 Crowley Apr. 29, 1941 2,288,539 Morrison June 30, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 322,860 Italy Nov. 1934 821,802 France Dec. 14, 1937 

